Colombia Participates in White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism

Ambassador Villegas represented Colombia at a Summit on Countering Violent Extremism hosted by the White House. During the summit, he spoke on Colombia’s success in countering violent groups and he highlighted that the government’s progressive agenda, in addition to this success, has allowed for progress and optimism in the ongoing peace talks.

Embassy Honors Colombian Journalist

Ambassador Villegas, his wife Carmela and Ambassador Ramón Gil-Casares of Spain hosted a reception in honor of journalist Juan Carlos Iragorri, Director of Club de Prensa on NTN24, and Washington Correspondent for Semana and RCN Radio. Mr. Iragorri received a national Colombian journalism award (Premio Periodismo Simón Bolivar) and a Spanish journalism award (Premio Rey de España).

Director General of Colombian Agency for Reintegration Shares Achievements in Washington, DC

Director General of the Colombian Agency for Reintegration (ACR) Joshua Mitrotti visited Washington, DC, on February 23 and 24, to discuss progress made in Colombia on demobilization, reintegration and the peace process.

Ambassador Villegas Travels to Guatemala City

On February 24, Ambassador Villegas traveled to Guatemala City. During the Ambassador’s visit, he reaffirmed Colombia’s commitment to the Alliance for Prosperity in the Northern Triangle - an initiative between El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras to further advance security and stability in the region.

Facebook Founder & CEO Launches Internet.org Project in Colombia

Facebook Founder & CEO Mark Zuckerberg on January 14, launched Internet.org in Colombia – an initiative aimed increasing internet access . At an event in Bogotá with President Santos, Zuckerberg announced that Facebook’s Internet.org app is now available to Colombian cellular phone provider Tigo’s customers, allowing free access to government services.

Zuckerberg and President Santos Discuss Importance of Internet Access to Strengthening Peace

While Facebook Founder & CEO Mark Zuckerberg was in Colombia on January 14 to launch Internet.org in Colombia, he and President Santos met and discussed the importance of Internet access to strengthening peace. The President presented Zuckerberg with a dove pin – the symbol for peace.

On December 12, 2014, during an official visit to Colombia, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Colombian Foreign Minister María Ángela Holguín to discuss the ongoing negotiations to achieve lasting peace in Colombia.

President Santos Participates in Clinton Foundation “The Future of the Americas” Event

On December 11, 2014, President Juan Manuel Santos joined former U.S. President Bill Clinton at “The Future of the Americas,” a Clinton Foundation event at the University of Miami that convened heads of state, private sector CEOs, non-governmental innovators, philanthropists and university presidents to discuss key issues on the future of the region.

Concert at Inter-American Development Bank in Honor of Gabriel García Márquez

Embassy Honors Maureen Orth

On Thursday, December 4, the Ambassador of Colombia Luis Carlos Villegas and Mrs. Carmela de Villegas hosted a five-course tasting dinner by Colombian Chefs Diego Panesso and Jorge Mario Gómez in honor of Maureen Orth, a Special Correspondent for Vanity Fair Magazine and the founder of the Marina Orth Foundation.